NewsArticle  :: Geocaching Safety First! :: (3349 Reads)

Posted by Bleeder973 on Monday, June 26, 2006 - 11:34 PM

Geocaching Safety First

Summer is here! With summer Geocaching comes a few more hazards than what winter generally presents, arguably of course. There are many opportunities for injury or worse. Wildlife is more active, insects become more abundant and our terrain becomes a little less friendly.

There are many opportunities for us to be more safety conscious, if not for ourselves, then for the little cachers that follow in our footsteps. Whenever you do any activity, safety should always be at the forefront of your thoughts and actions. The heat of the hunt can sometimes cloud our sense of reality and occasionally an accident will occur and there may not have been anything we could have done to avoid it, but we should always exhaust every chance to minimize the risk.

Some things we can do to be preventative is to make sure we read the cache descriptions thoroughly and try to be sure they are as up to date as possible. Reading a cache page that is a few years old may not be as up to date as newer caches but we should read logs to see if there is anything we may want to know about before we begin our search. As cache owners we should make sure we are doing our part to ensure that any obvious hazards be made aware as early as possible. Try not to stick your hands in places you can’t see. Poke a stick around in a spot before your hand becomes the target of the animal who resides in the very place you intend on poking your hand into. Wear gloves, pick up a walking stick. Always be aware of where you place yourself or your hands.

Being prepared is something else we should consider. Things happen and not all things are as easily attended to once we are out geocaching. Sometimes caches are remote and this lends to chance that a minor accident can easily turn into a more serious situation. If possible make sure a cell phone is taken and not left at home or in the vehicle. Especially if your caching alone. First aid kits are an exceptionally valuable method of being prepared. Not everyone can whip up a quick fix when something bad happens. Very simple, inexpensive first aid kits are available at any pharmacy, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. A little common know how is good to utilize your first aid kit. If something happens, remember to stay as calm as possible and think before you act. Making an irrational decision can make matters worse.

Always remember to let someone know where you intend to go. If you get lost and no one knows where you went the chances of you being found drop dramatically.

Our sport/hobby is a very fun way to spend our time. Make sure you do everything you can to make sure you’re able to make it out tomorrow to search for your next Geocache!


©Jeff Yoder 2006
Bleeder973
Contact me at: Sockdolager2k5@hotmail.com